India’s star cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Both players last represented India in the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025. After the tournament, Rohit and Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket, and now fans are eagerly waiting to see them back in action in the ODI series against Australia. Recently, there were reports suggesting that both players might retire from ODIs as well, but they are currently preparing for the upcoming matches.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come out in support of Rohit and Kohli, stating that the biggest challenge for them will be to play cricket regularly.
Irfan Pathan said that for players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mohammed Shami, it is very important to play consistently before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 to maintain fitness levels. Mohammed Shami, who has not retired from any format yet, was also part of the Champions Trophy squad. While speaking to Boria on RevSportz, Pathan shared his thoughts on the three players, saying that playing regularly will be the biggest challenge for them.
He explained, “Otherwise, they are doing fantastic. I am 41 years old, and I play in 2-3 leagues every year. I give my example because I play three leagues annually, and my challenge is that due to retirement, I don’t bowl as much. I play one league in November, another in June-July, and one in October. For me, starting and stopping is difficult. My main focus is on broadcasting and coaching now, but when it comes to playing, keeping my body in shape becomes tough.”
Irfan further added, “For these professional cricketers, their focus is completely on playing cricket. Their biggest challenge will be to play regularly and stay fit. Virat will mostly play in the IPL and occasionally in first-class cricket, but not to prove anything — just to stay in touch. Regularly playing won’t be easy. With T20 cricket dominating the schedule, ODIs have taken a back seat, and the number of matches has reduced. If they can maintain consistency in playing time, the 2027 World Cup won’t be a problem. Unfortunately, they will have to deal with a lot of pressure.”